One hundred fifty couples from across the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland flocked to the Berea parish that Saturday night for a Date Night.

“Don’t be afraid to do the hard work in your marriage,” she said. “You’ll emerge a whole, healed, and a better couple.”

“Accepting the situations and problems God sends us” can help to nurture both faith and marriage, said Andrew Swafford. “Accept prayer, accept work, and accept suffering,” he said, as gifts to be offered up to the Lord.

“The best gift you can give your children is to love your spouse,” Bishop Malesic said. “Teach those around you what it means to be a symbol of Christ’s love for his Church. You’re a sacrament that bears God’s grace of love to the world.”

Bishop Perez congratulated those in attendance, telling them, “It is good that you carved out time for yourselves. The marriage bond is very important,” he said, adding a good marriage is a gift for the couple’s children.

An average evening at Nighttown has the smooth sounds of jazz lofting over restaurant patrons. However, on Sept. 27, the local music venue was filled with the sound of married couples enjoying small plates, discussion and a reflection by Bishop Nelson Perez.